SprinklerDesigner2
Mechanical
- Nov 30, 2006
- 1,244
What I am thinking of is a hurricane prone area so let's say Houston, Texas.
Based only upon my observations over the years if a fire pump is down for mechanical issues it always seems to be the diesel pump the vast majority of the time.
If a diesel pump is down it's usually down for several days as repairs are made. Had once down once that took nearly a month to repair as getting the parts of the engine was a nightmare.
Hurricane comes through town taking the power out the diesel pumps will automatically start and run for maybe eight hours? What if it is really hot out, which it is right after a hurricane, and the vent/van doesn't operate because the electrical power is down? In any event the pump will operate for maybe eight hours before it runs out of fuel and, in a town as hard hit is Houston, refilling the tank is going to be at the bottom of everyone's to do list.
It sounds good, kind of like the 52,000 sq ft system rule, but has anyone every really done any studies on it? Since the beginning of time has there ever been an instance where a diesel pump has saved lives or property because the electrical power was down and the pump needed to operate?
I don't buy into the idea so convince me otherwise.
Oh, and I am not talking about a diesel/electric pump or a pump operating off a generator with auto transfer switch.
Based only upon my observations over the years if a fire pump is down for mechanical issues it always seems to be the diesel pump the vast majority of the time.
If a diesel pump is down it's usually down for several days as repairs are made. Had once down once that took nearly a month to repair as getting the parts of the engine was a nightmare.
Hurricane comes through town taking the power out the diesel pumps will automatically start and run for maybe eight hours? What if it is really hot out, which it is right after a hurricane, and the vent/van doesn't operate because the electrical power is down? In any event the pump will operate for maybe eight hours before it runs out of fuel and, in a town as hard hit is Houston, refilling the tank is going to be at the bottom of everyone's to do list.
It sounds good, kind of like the 52,000 sq ft system rule, but has anyone every really done any studies on it? Since the beginning of time has there ever been an instance where a diesel pump has saved lives or property because the electrical power was down and the pump needed to operate?
I don't buy into the idea so convince me otherwise.
Oh, and I am not talking about a diesel/electric pump or a pump operating off a generator with auto transfer switch.